NHTSA Complaint #10840074 — 1999 FORD F-150

THIS WHOLE EPISODE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN MY 1999 FORD F-150. I DID START TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO MATCH TRAFFIC SPEEDS, THE TRUCK WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT.THE BRAKES DID TAKE IN A FUNNY WAY AND THANK GOD THERE WAS NO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER 30 MILES, I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN, I COULD NOT STOP AT ALL. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK EVEN AFTER I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ALSO SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM NEAR THE ENGINE.THE PARKING BRAKE DID WORK AND I LIMPED INTO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. I CALLED AAA TO GET IT TOWED TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE THAT HAS DONE ALL MY TIRE AND AUTO REPAIR NEEDS FOR OVER 15 YEARS. WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT AFTER THE 2 HOUR TOW, THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN. ROBERT/FIRESTONE TOOK THE WHEELS OFF AND AFTER EXAMINING THE ROTORS/PADS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT PADS HAD LOCKED AND WERE PRESSING UNEVENLY ON THE ROTOR. HE ALSO PLANNED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE FLUID HOSE THAT HE THOUGHT WAS WORN OUT AND POSSIBLY LEAKING. I ALSO WENT OVER TO THE FORD DEALER AND CHECKED WITH THEM TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY RECALLS OR ADVICE. NO RECALLS OR SERVICE NOTICE WAS UNCOVERED. ALL I WAS TOLD WAS TO CHECK THE MASTER CYLINDER AS IT COULD BE LEAKING INTERNALLY. THAT IS ALL I GOT FROM FORD. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. WE DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE.FORD DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY MORE AND WE HAD TO SEARCH THE SALVAGE YARDS TO GET THIS PART AS IT IS NIT MADE NAYMORE BY THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE.VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE.WILL NEVER BUY A FORD TRUCK AGAIN. .